Enugu, Korea tie infrastructure backbone alliance

Enugu State Government says it is partnering with Korea on integrated infrastructure backbone hoped to spur the economic development in South Eastern Nigeria. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, who disclosed this when he hosted a a team from the Integrated Infrastructure Backbone for Nigeria and Hyundai Engineering of Korea, says that talks with the Federal Government on the ambitious project have reached an advanced stage. On his part, Dr. Stephen Dike of Integrated Infrastructure Development Associate explained the planned infrastructure development project. [caption id="attachment_46184" align="alignleft" width="215"] Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State[/caption] “It is a special purpose company established to initiate the integrated infrastructure development project for Nigeria and the whole idea is to create economic development catalyst that would ensure that we have an integrated infrastructure backbone that would go from Akwa Ibom deep sea port all the way to Katsina”, according to Dike. According to him, “we also have another one at Bayelsa which would now join the backbone from Akwa Ibom to Katsina at Enugu. Our whole idea is to make Enugu/ Obollo Afor Centre Point of integrated infrastructure development plan for the whole South-East region.” He adds that, “along this backbone, we are going to have five dimensions of infrastructure development. That would include: power grid, fiber cables, high-speed rail road, dual carriage high and finally, it would include the gas pipeline (70-inch diameter gas pipeline.” The whole idea is that economic development in Nigeria can only go as fast as infrastructure development would go. Infrastructure development in Nigeria has not been strategic and integrated. The highest costs of infrastructure development are: the cost of security and the cost of right of wealth, Dike explains. “We are looking at other developed countries like Shanghai, Japan, Singapore et cetera and we are trying to emulate their successes of those at best practices in order to bring it to infrastructure development in Nigeria.” On the strategic role of Enugu state in the whole project, he also explained that “Our partnership with Enugu State Government is that the infrastructural backbone is going to pass through the state. Obollo Afor is the centre point for the backbone because we are going to have an inland container port at Obollo Afor.” Commenitng further, Governor Ugwuanyi says “I wish to thank you for your kind comments on the success of the Oganiru – Enugu State Investment Summit- during which, as you rightly observed, I declared that Enugu State is open for business. The Governor believes that 'your visit today actually goes to confirm that the Summit made the required impact and is therefore yielding the desired results. It is in that spirit therefore that I do warmly welcome the team from Hyundai Engineering and those from Integrated Infrastructure Backbone for Nigeria. “We are certainly interested in hearing your proposals for investment in Enugu State and you can always count on our cooperation and partnership”, the Governor told the investors. The Korean team included Mr Hon Byung Chul, the General Manager, Overseas Investments, Mr Jang Hosung, Manager, Overseas Investments, Mr Cha Ki Young of Alpos which are Consultants to Hyundai Engineering and Mr Justin Okafor, President Nigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Japan. The delegation from the Integrated Infrastructure Backbone Project was led by Dr Nkemka Jombo-Ofo, Principal Consultant, Dr Stephen Dike, Principal Consultant, Dr Solomon Nyagba, Consultant, Mr Eric Eze, Surveyor and Mr Kingsley Eze, Consultant.

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